Special study modules: an opportunity not to be missed

The General Medical Council's (GMC's) Tomorrow's Doctors has proposed a radical rethink of undergraduate medical education. The two main planks of the proposals are the core curriculum and special study modules (SSMs) or options. Medical schools around the country have been much exercised in creating their core curricula but there has been less time given to a consideration of the SSMs. This paper looks at the GMC's proposals for SSMs and emphasizes their importance in introducing innovation and originality. Three different categories of SSM are described and a justification made for including each in the curriculum. The focus is on what non-medical subjects might contribute to medical education.